21 Inspiring Friendship Quotes From Books We LOVE

From Mindy Kaling to Toni Morrison, authors say it best when it comes to matters of the heart.

My favorite love quotes also apply to my friends. "Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend." This has been attributed to the brilliant Albert Camus, author of the fantastic novel The Stranger. Some sources claim that Camus never wrote or even said this. I still love the quote, no matter its genesis.

The following 21 friendship quotes, though, I can assure you came from books — novels, memoirs and philosophical works. Got another one to share? Leave it in the comments below. After all, you're among friends.

1. "One friend with whom you have a lot in common is better than three with whom you struggle to find things to talk about." ― Mindy Kaling, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

2. "If you have but one friend, make sure you choose her well." ― Muriel Barbery, The Elegance of the Hedgehog

3. "Friendship- my definition- is built on two things. Respect and trust. Both elements have to be there. And it has to be mutual. You can have respect for someone, but if you don't have trust, the friendship will crumble." ― Stieg Larsson, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

4. "Anybody can sympathise with the sufferings of a friend, but it requires a very fine nature to sympathise with a friend's success." ― Oscar Wilde, The Soul of Man Under Socialism

5. "When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives." ― George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones

6. "Friends are honest with each other. Even if the truth hurts." ― Sarah Dessen, Along for the Ride

7. "No friendship is an accident." ― O. Henry, Heart of the West

8. "Tis the privilege of friendship to talk nonsense, and to have her nonsense respected." ― Charles Lamb, The Life, Letters and Writings of Charles Lamb

9. "The capacity for friendship is God's way of apologizing for our families." ― Jay McInerney, The Last of the Savages

10. "She is a friend of my mind. She gather me, man. The pieces I am, she gather them and give them back to me in all the right order." ― Toni Morrison, Beloved

11. "Friendship is everything. Friendship is more than talent. It is more than the government. It is almost the equal of family." ― Mario Puzo, The Godfather